Special Service and Features
Role of Structural Engineering in Infrastructure Development
One Week One Lab Campaign is a nationwide theme-based campaign to showcase the technological breakthroughs and innovations of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research  laboratories across the country.
During this campaign, each of CSIR’s 37 constituent laboratories will showcase their legacy, exclusive innovations and technological breakthroughs every successive week. CSIR-Structural Engineering Research Centre , a constituent laboratory of CSIR is organizing this campaign during 5-9 June 2023, which will culminate with the Foundation Day celebrations of CSIR-SERC on 10 June 2023. Diverse programmes are being organized during this week at CSIR-SERC including Society Connect, Stakeholder Connect, Student Connect, Future Entrepreneurs Connect and Public Connect.
On the first day  of this campaign, Society Connect event was organized at CSIR-SERC. The event is organized to showcase the research contributions made by CSIR-SERC for the benefit of the society at large. The event provides the platform for knowledge sharing, technical demonstrations and to identify the gaps between research outcomes and societal needs through focused discussions. The policymakers, officials of regulatory bodies and government organisations are participated in the event and shared their views and requirements that would help CSIR-SERC to contribute effectively to improve the standard of infrastructure in the country. The outcome of this event is expected to help in planning and directing the research activities of CSIR-SERC towards evolving innovative solutions to the challenging problems. The event started with an inaugural function at 9:30 AM at Vigyan Auditorium, CSIR-SERC, Chennai. Shri Desh Ratan Gupta, Principal Chief Engineer, Southern Railway, was the chief guest of the function. Shri U.S.P. Yadav, Deputy Director General , Bureau of Indian Standards, was the Guest of Honour.
The inaugural function started with Tamil Thai Vaazhthu and lightning of Kuthu Vilakku by the dignitaries. Dr. N. Anandavalli, Director, CSIR-SERC and Coordinating Director, CSIR Madras Complex gave the welcome address, in which she spoke briefly on the uniqueness of one week one lab campaign and mentioned that today’s event will showcase the significant contributions of CSIR-SERC to the society. She also spoke briefly on the genesis of CSIR-SERC and its significant contributions to the country and society since its inception. She pointed out that structural engineering plays a vital role in development and maintenance of critical infrastructure such as bridges, highways, tunnels, ports, etc. thus enhancing transportation and communication, which provides improved social and economic connectivity. Stressing on the importance of sustainable technologies, she said that creating cutting-edge technologies in structural engineering will enable the society to thrive and progress. A short video on CSIR-SERC, its accomplishments and important contributions to the society and nation in the past 58 years of its existence was shown to the participants. Dr. J. Rajasankar, Chief Scientist, CSIR-SERC, briefed the participants on the Society Connect event and its objectives. He mentioned that the main purpose of this event is coming together and establishing connectivity with the society and to identify and bridge the gap. He also mentioned that the event has drawn participation from diverse departments/areas such as public works, rural development, roads & highways, railways, Research Designs & Standards Organization , Rail Vikas Nigam Limited , Chennai metro, power infrastructure, port & coastal management, etc.
Dr. S. Parivallal, Chief Scientist, CSIR-SERC, introduced the guest of honour, Shri U.S.P. Yadav, to the audience. Shri Yadav, in his address applauded CSIR and CSIR-SERC for this campaign and said that Society Connect is a very important subject as any organization that loses the connect with the society will lose its relevance sooner or later. He emphasized on the importance of giving back to the society without which any organization cannot sustain. Briefing on Bureau of Indian Standards , he said that BIS connects the research organizations with the society by way of standards. He also highlighted the role played by standards in the market and society and mentioned that CSIR-SERC contributes to almost 70-80% of the structural engineering standards brought out by BIS and that CSIR-SERC is the major contributor to the national building code. He also stressed on the importance of sustainability, conservation of resources, and reduction of carbon footprint.
Dr. S. Parivallal then introduced the chief guest Shri Desh Ratan Gupta to the audience. The chief guest in his address mentioned that CSIR-SERC is an important national laboratory of CSIR and that its services are widely used by the Indian Railway and various public & private sector organizations for decades. Speaking briefly on the significance of structural health monitoring, he said that the design and performance assessment of structures and structural components are of paramount importance. He mentioned that CSIR-SERC has contributed extensively in the evaluation and assessment of railway bridges and hence contributed hugely towards uninterrupted railway operations. He also mentioned about the vital role played by CSIR-SERC in the assessment of old railway bridges, load testing of Pamban Bridge, etc.
Shri S.G.N. Murthy, Chief Scientist, CSIR-SERC, mentioned briefly on the Public Connect event of CSIR-SERC and the roadshow that starts today at Chennai. A short video on the event was played before the audience. The bilingual booklet on Public Connect event was released by the chief guest Shri Gupta. Dr. Amar Prakash, Senior Principal Scientist, CSIR-SERC proposed vote of thanks.
A group photo session was organized with the participants at the end of the function, which was followed by the flagging-off of Public Connect road show by the Chief Guest from the CSIR-SERC campus. The Public Connect event includes a road show & exhibition with a team from CSIR-SERC travelling to 6 cities  across Tamil Nadu to share the contributions of CSIR-SERC with the public through interactions at public places and educational institutions. The Guest of honour also inaugurated the exhibition stalls on CSIR-SERC technologies at the campus, displayed as a part of the one week one lab campaign at CSIR-SERC.
The inaugural session of Society Connect event was followed by the Workshop on Technological Interventions for Societal Needs at 11.15 AM, wherein the scientists of CSIR-SERC gave presentations on the research work and technologies of CSIR-SERC. The workshop was followed by the panel discussion on Building Quality Infrastructure for Sustainable Society – Way Forward.
In the afternoon session, visit to exhibition stalls, visit to various laboratories of CSIR-SERC and one-one discussions with interested participants were organized.